Alexandre Rocha nearly stopped playing golf last year, until two moves by the International Olympic Committee changed his mind.
And that's just one tiny part of his unbelievable story.
The world's 711th-ranked player - who needed to survive a pre-qualifier, then a Monday qualifier, then a playoff, just to get into the field at PGA National this week - shot a 4-under 66 on Thursday, one shot back of Nathan Green and Michael Connell after the first round on a windy and unseasonably cool first day at the Honda Classic.
"I needed a day like today like, you have no idea," Rocha said. "And it was for nobody. It's for myself."
The Honda is only his fourth PGA Tour event; the last was in 2003, and he's never made a cut. He lost his European Tour card last year and got status earlier this year on the Asian Tour, only after deciding that he wanted to continue playing golf for a living.
The IOC had much to do with that. First, they awarded the 2016 Summer Olympics to his native Brazil, then added golf to that program. Rocha - who didn't know a word of English when he arrived at Mississippi State - took those moves as signs of what he was supposed to do, so he recommitted to the game with hopes of finally making something happen.
Oliver Wilson and Camilo Villegas also were tied for second with Rocha at 4 under.
Singh, Bubba Watson and D.J. Trahan were all two shots back at 67.
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